Norway Assumes Leadership of NORDEFCO On January 1st, Norway assumed leadership of the Nordic Defence Cooperation (NORDEFCO) after Finland. War in Europe and heightened uncertainty have increased the significance of cooperation. "Europe can not take security for granted," says Norway's Minister of Defense, Tore O. Sandvik.
EU Parliament Charts New Arctic Course, With Norway and Other Arctic Partners at the Center The Parliament of the European Union adopted a new Arctic resolution warning of military buildup and highlighting the need for cooperation with Nordic partners, including Norway, to ready itself for the coming geopolitical competition. The measures passed with a broad majority of 510 votes for, 75 against, and 80 abstentions.
Finland Seeks Allied Cooperation on Space-Based Surveillance in the High North Finland is building up satellite surveillance capability and wants to join forces with allies to strengthen collective defense, said Minister of Defense Antti Häkkänen at NATO's Arctic Space Forum. Key Finnish and Swedish space actors have already signed a letter of intent on cooperation.
We Went to Greenland When the Noise Had Quieted Down Dear reader. International media have been quiet about Greenland ever since the journalists, who were led in droves by Donald Trump, went back home. We went to Greenland to gauge the mood after the noise had quieted down.
Nordic Defense Ministers and Chiefs of Defense Gathered to Enhance Joint Combat Power All Nordic defense ministers and chiefs of defense recently met in Helsinki. A key topic was the development of air forces capable of combined operations. “This is important for strengthening NATO’s deterrence and defense in the High North,” says Antti Häkkänen, Finnish Minister of Defense.
Iceland and Germany to Enhance Defense Cooperation Iceland and Germany recently signed a letter of intent on increased defense cooperation. "We are ready to assume greater responsibility for stability and security in the High North," says the German Minister of Defense, Boris Pistorius.
Prime Minister of Iceland: “We Better Control What's Happening in Our Own Backyard” Reykjavik (High North News): “We can't sit back and want this to be a risk-free, neutral zone, and whatever happens, happens”, says the Prime Minister of Iceland, Kristrún Mjöll Frostadóttir, who have been in office for nine months.
Locked Up in Washington, Murkowski Gave an Almost Absurd Insight Into American Madness Reykjavik (Comment): A deeply affected US Senator, Lisa Murkowski, spoke via videolink to 2,000 participants at the international Arctic Circle conference here in Reykjavik yesterday. She was supposed to be on stage, but instead showcased an involuntary digital demonstration of the madness of US politics.
Iceland and Finland to Strengthen Defense Cooperation On Tuesday, Iceland and Finland signed a Memorandum of Understanding on defense cooperation. "This agreement underscores Iceland's increased emphasis on regional and bilateral cooperation with neighboring countries and central allies," says the Icelandic Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Denmark, Greenland and Iceland's Reactions To Trump Oslo (High North News): "Just a year and a half ago, Greenland's foreign policy strategy was basically one big invitation to the US for cooperation. Then Trump destroyed the trust and interest from Greenland," says Ulrik Pram Gad, Senior Researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies.
Iceland Has No Defense of Its Own, Still Wants to Contribute More to NATO Iceland is developing a new security and defense policy and will increase its defense-related spending, says the country's Prime Minister, Kristrún Frostadóttir. She recently met with NATO's Secretary General Mark Rutte in Brussels, who commended the Icelandic contribution to the alliance despite not having its own armed forces.
Iceland Has No Defense of Its Own, Still Wants to Contribute More to NATO Iceland is developing a new security and defense policy and will increase its defense-related spending, says the country's Prime Minister, Kristrún Frostadóttir. She recently met with NATO's Secretary General Mark Rutte in Brussels, who commended the Icelandic contribution to the alliance despite not having its own armed forces.
Arctic Council Chairship Handover: “We Must Move Forward With Courage,” Says Greenlandic Foreign Minister Tromsø, Northern Norway (High North News): The Kingdom of Denmark, spearheaded by Greenland, has taken over the chairship of the Arctic Council. The eight Arctic states have also agreed on a joint statement. "The Council must continue to be the foremost forum for cooperation in the Arctic," underlines Greenland's foreign minister.
Nordic Defense Ministers Met in Lapland: Updated NORDEFCO With New Agreement New measures are bolstering Nordic defense cooperation. Gathered in Rovaniemi, the Nordic defense ministers signed a revised NORDEFCO Memorandum of Understanding – and discussed stronger joint efforts within air defense and the defense industry.
Nordic Defense Ministers Met in Lapland: Updated NORDEFCO With New Agreement New measures are bolstering Nordic defense cooperation. Gathered in Rovaniemi, the Nordic defense ministers signed a revised NORDEFCO Memorandum of Understanding – and discussed stronger joint efforts within air defense and the defense industry.
Support of Independent Membership for Greenland and the Faroe Islands in Nordic Cooperation "The current geopolitical situation shows how important it is that we stick together in the Nordic region," says the Secretary General of the Nordic Council of Ministers, arguing that Greenland and the Faroe Islands should be granted full-fledged participation in official Nordic cooperation.
“The US Can Become More Unpredictable on Climate Issues in the Arctic Council Than Russia” The Kingdom of Denmark’s Arctic Council chairship program form a good basis for further cooperation between the eight Arctic states. However, engaging the Trump administration in the council’s work on climate change could be particularly challenging, says FNI researcher.
Our High North Neighbor, Greenland Op-ed: US Army Veteran and Historian Mike Thornton looks at the history of Greenland amid increased US interest in the Arctic island.
Arctic Guardian 2025: Multilateral Exercise on Maritime Emergency Response off Northern Norway The exercise, which gathers coast guard resources from the seven Western Arctic states, is underway. "In a changing Arctic, it is crucial that we train together, build trust, and understand each other's capabilities," says the Commander of Norway's Coast Guard.
Our High North Neighbor, Iceland The Battle of the Atlantic would never have been won without the support of the people of Iceland, writes US Army Veteran Mike Thornton in this op-ed. He takes a historical look at Iceland and its strategic position.
Arctic Military Leaders Met Near the Norway-Russia Border: Discussed Hybrid Threats Last week, the Arctic Security Forces Roundtable was held in Kirkenes, Northern Norway, focusing on grey zone threats. "It is important to create understanding among our close allies about how the security situation in the Arctic is perceived in a turbulent and uncertain time," says the Norwegian Armed Forces.
Nordic Defense Cooperation is Becoming Even More Tangible The Nordic Ministers of Defense will strengthen operational cooperation, enhance military mobility, and initiate drone collaboration. "These measures concretize the Nordic countries' efforts to be able to carry out joint military operations if deterrence fails," says professor.
Norway to Consider the Future of the Barents Euro-Arctic Council as Finland Withdraws Finland recently announced its withdrawal from the Barents Euro-Arctic Council after 2025. "From the Norwegian side, we will assess the path forward for the council together with the remaining members," says State Secretary Maria Varteressian in Norway’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Faroe Islands Threatens to Exit Nordic Cooperation: “We Are either All in or Not at All” The Faroe Islands and Greenland will no longer accept exclusion from Nordic summits on foreign and security policy – and demand full-fledged membership of the Nordic Council and the Nordic Council of Ministers. Now the Nordic Council is calling for a renewal of the Helsinki Treaty.
The Faroe Islands Threatens to Exit Nordic Cooperation: “We Are either All in or Not at All” The Faroe Islands and Greenland will no longer accept exclusion from Nordic summits on foreign and security policy – and demand full-fledged membership of the Nordic Council and the Nordic Council of Ministers. Now the Nordic Council is calling for a renewal of the Helsinki Treaty.
The Faroe Islands Threatens to Exit Nordic Cooperation: “We Are either All in or Not at All” The Faroe Islands and Greenland will no longer accept exclusion from Nordic summits on foreign and security policy – and demand full-fledged membership of the Nordic Council and the Nordic Council of Ministers. Now the Nordic Council is calling for a renewal of the Helsinki Treaty.
Arctic Defense Ministers to Enhance Cooperation on Security and Defense in the Region The defense ministers and other representatives of the Arctic NATO countries, including the Faroe Islands and Greenland, recently met at the alliance's headquarters in Brussels. They discussed topical regional security issues and reaffirmed their shared commitment to increased cooperation in the Arctic.
“The Most Important Crossroad of Our Generation” Reykjavik (High North News): “Whether we like it or not, the Arctic is fast becoming a theater of global competition and militarization, and it is up to us to determine the parameters for developing this region”, said prime minister of Iceland, Bjarni Benediktsson on opening the Arctic Circle Assembly just four days after he resigned from the government.
Arctic Chiefs of Defense Meeting in Iceland Recently, the allied Arctic chiefs of defense met in Keflavík to discuss the regional security situation and the opportunities for increased cooperation. The US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff also met bilaterally with his counterparts from Norway, Sweden and Iceland.
Nordic Defense Cooperation Strengthened With New Joint Concept The Nordic Chiefs of Defense have signed an agreement on a joint defense concept for the region. This will synchronize the countries' defense plans and facilitate, among other things, more joint military exercises and educational activities, capacity building, and joint operations.
Northern Viking: Practicing the Defense of Iceland and Sea Routes in the North Atlantic On Monday, the US-led defense exercise Northern Viking kicked off in Iceland. Allied forces and Icelandic preparedness agencies are practicing securing critical national infrastructure and the sea lines of communication in the Greenland, Iceland, United Kingdom (GIUK) gap.
Researchers: "The International Whaling Commission Should Be Dismantled" Researchers call for dismantling the International Whaling Commission (IWC) as they believe it has outlived its usefulness. They state that the IWC has little to show from the past four decades and should set an example for other organizations on when to stop.
Icelandic Author Couple: Literature Allows Us To Explore Everything, Including the End of the World Harstad (High North News): "We Icelanders never prepare for anything," says the author couple Sigríður Hagalín Björnsdóttir and Jón Kalman Stefánsson. They admire the Norwegian practical preparedness thinking but also remind us of the resistance power of traveling literature and maintain that a preparedness storage must also include a book and a ukulele.
Narvik in Northern Norway Awarded the 2029 Alpine World Ski Championships Narvik in Northern Norway was recently appointed host of the Alpine World Ski Championships in 2029. "We are now looking forward to the next stage together with the FIS, the municipalities, the business sector, and many others,” says Chairman Knut-Eirik Dybdal.
Norway's Arctic Council Chairship Praised by Iceland Bodø (High North News): “It was up to Norway to take on the huge challenge and responsibility of chairing the Arctic Council after Russia,” Iceland's Arctic ambassador, Pétur Ásgeirsson, said, praising Norway's navigation through the muddy waters of Russia's war in Ukraine while chairing the Arctic Council.
Pan-Arctic Vision 2024 in Greenland: Seeking Arctic Artists To This Fall's Big Stage in Nuuk This year's Pan-ArcticVision will take place in Greenland in October – and calls for contributions from Arctic artists with northern tones and words to express. This is an adventurous opportunity to form border-crossing bonds, share music, and strike a blow for the power of definition in the circumpolar north, the organizers tempt.
New Vision for Nordic Defense Cooperation: Eight Areas for Vigorous Joint Action A united Nordic region in NATO now join forces to lift the Nordic defense cooperation into a new era. "Russia will remain a threat against European and global security for the foreseeable future," believes the Nordic allies, wanting to engage in operational military interaction.
Eruption Started Again on Reykjanes Peninsula in Iceland An eruption started northeast of Sýlingarfell in Iceland after 6 am on Thursday, February 8. An earthquake swarm had begun in the magma intrusion north of the town of Grindavík on the Reykjanes Peninsula around half an hour earlier.
Icelandic Optimism Award to Jazzy and Hopeful Artist Laufey On Wednesday, the annual Icelandic Optimism Award was granted to Laufey Lín Jónsdóttir, who creates a dreamy soundscape of jazz, pop, and classical music. The award is meant to encourage artistic work, which in turn inspires the surrounding community, says Iceland's president.
Nordic Literature Prize to Explosive Icelandic Picture Book On Tuesday, the Nordic Council's Children and Young People's Literature Prize was awarded to the Icelandic author and illustrator Rán Flygenring for the picture book Eldgos. "The story bursts with power, both capturing and propelling our fascination with extreme natural phenomena," writes the jury.
Arctic Winds During Iceland Airwaves These days, Arctic music is celebrated during the Iceland Airwaves festival in Reykjavik. The concert series Arctic Waves, developed in collaboration with festivals from Sàpmi, Greenland, and Canada, invites a captivating Northern world of sound.
PM of Iceland: We Have Suffered a Climate Backlash Reykjavik (High North News): At the Arctic Circle Assembly in Reykjavík, the Prime Minister of Iceland, Katrín Jakobsdóttir, emphasized that COP 28 in November must succeed in order to slow down rapid climate change.
The United Arab Emirates at the Arctic Circle: "Past Climate Promises Must Be Upheld" Reykjavik (High North News): "The Arctic is the front line of climate change in a very real sense. We must keep our eye on the Polar Star – the 1.5-degree target," says the United Arab Emirates' special envoy for climate and COP 28 President-Designate at the Arctic Circle Conference.
Ministers, NATO, and Researchers Convene in Reykjavik for the 10th Time Reykjavik (High North News): On Thursday, October 19th, researchers, politicians, organizations, and the military will meet in Reykjavik for the 10th Arctic Circle conference.
Icelanders Cheer for Nordic Cooperation Icelanders are most positive about cooperation in the Nordic countries, shows a survey carried out for Iceland's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Support for the country's NATO membership and defense cooperation with the USA has decreased somewhat since last year.
Increased Allied Military Presence in Iceland Iceland has recently welcomed German fighters, US strategic bombers – as well as the commander of both the US Air Forces in Europe and NATO's Air Command. At the same time, Russian strategic bombers have carried out two sorties in the High North.
Increased Allied Military Presence in Iceland Iceland has recently welcomed German fighters, US strategic bombers – as well as the commander of both the US Air Forces in Europe and NATO's Air Command. At the same time, Russian strategic bombers have carried out two sorties in the High North.
Arctic Music and Criticism, Politics and Sequins, Glitter and Reindeer Antlers! On Saturday, Pan-ArcticVision premieres in Vadsø, Northern Norway. A grand, crazy, and beautiful project, says Artistic Director Amund Sjølie Sveen – and welcomes us to the border-crossing building of the Arctic community.
Arctic Music and Criticism, Politics and Sequins, Glitter and Reindeer Antlers! On Saturday, Pan-ArcticVision premieres in Vadsø, Northern Norway. A grand, crazy, and beautiful project, says Artistic Director Amund Sjølie Sveen – and welcomes us to the border-crossing building of the Arctic community.
Arctic Music and Criticism, Politics and Sequins, Glitter and Reindeer Antlers! On Saturday, Pan-ArcticVision premieres in Vadsø, Northern Norway. A grand, crazy, and beautiful project, says Artistic Director Amund Sjølie Sveen – and welcomes us to the border-crossing building of the Arctic community.
